County: Meath Site name: STARINAGH/COOLFORE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E1459
Author: Donal Fallon, Cultural Resource Development Services Ltd.
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 700181m, N 780286m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.762540, -6.480583
Pre-development testing was carried out on 16 September 2002 on behalf of Meath County Council before the demolition and replacement of a bridge over the River Mattock. The bridge is c. 3km south-east of Collon, between the townlands of Starinagh, Co. Meath, and Coolfore Co. Louth.
An underwater survey had already been completed, containing an assessment of the site and its immediate environs (licence 02D081). This identified two features of potential archaeological significance marked on the first-edition OS map (1837): a fording point at the approximate location of the modern bridge, and a mill-race running along the eastern bank of the river. The mill-race was some distance from the development and appeared to be of relatively modern origin, relating to a flax mill of 18th- or 19th-century date. The fording point was identified as a shelf of natural bedrock on the riverbed, immediately adjacent to the existing bridge.
Four test-pits were excavated by a tracked machine equipped with a 2m ditching bucket. These were positioned on either side of the bridge on both banks and measured 2m by 2m. Testing demonstrated that considerable disturbance had taken place on the site, associated with the construction of the existing bridge. Deposits above the subsoil varied from 0.25m to 0.8m deep and consisted of a range of riverine silt deposits and modern disturbance. No features of archaeological significance were exposed, and all finds recovered were of modern date.
The licence was subsequently extended to cover the monitoring of all groundworks associated with the development, which took place on 17 and 18 September. These included the demolition of the existing bridge and the soil-stripping associated with the creation of a site compound in an adjacent field. No features of archaeological significance were exposed.
Unit 4, Dundrum Business Park, Dundrum, Dublin 14
